My Tom-Boy Girlfriend

#23 : Year End Celebrations

Raghav's POV

🎶🎶
Take my hand, take a breath
Pull me close and take one step
Keep your eyes locked on mine
And let the music be your guide
🎶🎶

The entire office was in festival mode and the week long year end celebrations were in full swing. Multiple events taking place at the same time in different venues of the office. The two blocks that were occupied by our company in this huge IT campus had a cheerful cloud on it. Other company's employees looked at the grand entrances of our blocks with envy. Obviously when their companies had such functions, it would be our turns to burn in jealousy. Like a baton passed around the companies, they made sure their annual events didn't clash with others, due to the space constraints of the shared campus.

Green and blue balloons tangled together to form arches, welcomed us at the entrance. The reception area was also adorned with balloon decorations and glittering cutouts of i-Fest 2019 stuck on the wall. Major events were listed on roll up banner displays, stationed at prominent places for awareness.

Vicky came up to Asim's desk and turned towards me. "Let's participate in some event, it'll be fun. I heard today's the last day for the registration of treasure hunt and prelims will start after lunch. Shall we send our nominations for it?" He placed his hand in Asim's shoulder to catch his attention too.

"Hmmmmm. These events only freshers and juniors participate. We will look odd, let them enjoy. This is the only time they can. Later when they become seniors like us drowned with work, they won't get a chance". I replied back looking at my desktop, busy typing away an email.

"Oh come on man, don't make us sound like oldies. We still have young blood. So what if we are seniors, there are no restrictions on who can participate. It's for all employees, even if the CEO wants he can!" Vicky fought back.

"Why do you even want to participate now, all of a sudden?", Asim questioned him, titling his head to look up to him.

"It's been years since we all are together during the annual fest. Don't know when we will get this opportunity later. Don't be a spoil sport now! Come on you lazy asses." Vicky grumbled.

"Ok ok fine. I'm in", I surrendered.

"We need five people in a team as per the rules", Asim stated with his hands folded.

"That's not going to be a problem", Vicky dismissed him with his hand. "We can loop in Bala and -".

Asim cut him off, "Each team needs to have a girl in it to qualify". Vicky's eye gleamed with mischief and I knew what it indicated. Before Vicky could open his mouth, Asim beat him to it. "And no Sasha can't be the girl".

"Why?", came my instant objection.

Asim turned to me with an amused look. "It's because she's already participating in it with her gang. You didn't know?"

"Daniel and Simbu too? They are from different portfolios so how can they be part of the same team? Isn't it a competion between portfolios and at the end the one with most points lifts the championship trophy?" I questioned.

"The competition is still there but they have modified the rules. For off-stage events employees from different portfolios can participate together as a team to foster employee bondings. This has always been the case, didn't you know that, Raghav?" Asim creased out my doubts.

"Ya, I didn't know, never gave those rules a second look" I shrugged and said in a wooden tone.

"So what, Chitra can join us. I'll ask Bala and Chitra, you go ahead and send the nominations". Vicky said to Asim while fishing out his phone to make the calls.